On May 19, 2014, H.E. Mr. Paul Robert Tiendrebeogo, Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Austria, visited ICPE. Ms. Aissatou Zerbo, Economic Counsellor and Mr. Regis Bakyono, Second Counselor accompanied H.E. Tiendrebeogo. ICPE was represented by Mr. Janez Podobnik, ICPE ADG, Zvone Dragan, Ambassador, Special Advisor to ADG and Mr. Nenad Stankovic, ICPE Representative in Vienna.
The main subject of the meeting was exchanging information about the possibility of implementing projects/programs and engage in development of co-operation between ICPE and Burkina Faso. During the very fruitful and pragmatic discussions Mr. Podobnik presented the ICPE history, activities and new short-term/long-term programs. He informed the delegation about the planned ICPE events and strongly encouraged Burkina Faso to take part in these projects. Mr. Podobnik underlined ICPE’s strong intention to develop projects and implement activities in accordance with the concrete needs and requirements of the ICPE member states and partner countries. In this respect, he invited the Administration of Burkina Faso to express their needs and inform ICPE about its main priorities.
Ambassador Tiendrebeogo appreciated the received information and expressed his readiness to support ICPE in its efforts to establish a closer co-operation with Burkina Faso. Regarding the area of potential co-operation he underlined the trainings in the field of wastewater management and energy, especially solar energy. He also suggested that certain ICPE events could be organized in Burkina Faso in collaboration with the Administration of the country as well as with the support of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS). The President of the ECOWAS Commission is the former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Mr. Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo, and Burkina Faso has a very active role in this organization.
Mr. Podobnik appreciated proposal made by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso and informed him that ICPE will initiate a Memorandum of Understanding between ICPE and Burkina Faso in which ICPE will propose areas and ways of mutual cooperation. It was agreed to continue the dialogue and intensify exchanging of information between ICPE and the Embassy of Burkina Faso with the intention to attract Burkina Faso’s administration to take an active role in ICPE activities and to identify the most appropriate ICPE local partners in Burkina Faso.
